If you've ever hated yourself and searched for wrestling poo poo online, chances are you've come across WrestlingForum.com, the most plain jane URL for a wrestling forum out there. This forum is full of real dumb opinions such as

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I know Daniel Bryan having his Wrestlemania moment was great, it was perfect timing, he deserved it blah blah blah... But I really want Kane to destroy DB at Extreme Rules, keep him that unstoppable force that everyone wants to see.

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I wonder if Kane will possibly win the title from Bryan and then maybe drop it at Payback? I suppose anything is possible.

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I really wish Russo would book WWE. Very underrated when he was in WCW. AOL is the reason WCW went out of business, not Russo.

From the beautiful land of TNA Mecca and one of their post-impact discussion chats.

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Isn't it funny how wwe booked bearded champion Daniel Bryan vs a newly re-masked monster in a hardcore match just days after TNA tapes a show with bearded champion Eric Young facing a newly re-masked monster in Abyss?

From my understanding, that's wwe ripping off TNA but no wwe mark will bring this up.

Hah! TNA was first at this you dumb marks.

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One thing I love about TNA as of late is how the wrestlers have been presented. Look at Kenny King for example. He is playing a big baller type character which is essentially himself. If it was the other company up north they be having him play a street thug or a basketball player gimmick. It feels organic and that's the key word folks..."Organic".

Where is this basketball player gimmick?

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WWE marks don't know what the world sincerely means, #TheyIsDumberThenDirt

They're saying that the Eric Young push has been on the books for months and so it's coincidental.

That's even worse than saying it's just copying WWE. This way they're saying that not only is this a terrible idea but that they had this terrible idea to make the comedy mid card guy champ with no build whatsoever and that that was their plan for months.

Are TNA fans just perpetually in the denial stage of death or something?

That's even worse than saying it's just copying WWE. This way they're saying that not only is this a terrible idea but that they had this terrible idea to make the comedy mid card guy champ with no build whatsoever and that that was their plan for months.

Are TNA fans just perpetually in the denial stage of death or something?

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Ring of Honor's Jay Lethal: Lethal Injection is a two disc set, featuring nine matches from 2003-2005 and 11 matches between 2011-2012. To keep it focused, I'm focusing on the first disc.

ROH has produced a large number of compilations over the past year, and I understand that compilations by an indie promotion are meant to capitalize on former names now thriving on other (bigger) stages, but the underlying criticism I have about ROH's compilations is that watching the best of the best almost always gets repetitive. Plus, it's awkward to watch the old, then follow the new, and realize that there is a difference.

Wading through the stack of stuff and the stack of compilations, I realize that Lethal and his recent "turn" and new association with Truth Martini puts him in relevance. He's a guy that has world class talent, a body of work and excellence, and a backstory that a lot of current fans may not know. A very good choice to review, indeed.

Lethal, as the ROH hardcores know, was initially in a faction called Special K and went by the name Hydro. It was a raver-inspired bunch of spoiled brats with athleticism and a big bodyguard, but Hydro was the one touted as the best. His ascension from that faction to a player in the ROH promotion isn't just an interesting one, but a brilliant one and the main points are here on this DVD.
Lethal, as a key member of Special K, comes forth from a match from very early 2003, and really shows his potential, but also highlights probably one of the best incarnations of a young group of heels (aside from FIP's YRR) in a long time.

What I like about this glimpse at Special K is the underlying indifference of this faction, spurning the “honor” of ROH, spurring a sense of “heelishness” that makes you want to see them get their due, and with their bodyguard named Slugger – who appears to be an interesting cross of 911 and Mr. Hughes with dreadlocks – there’s a great dynamic of a bunch of young punks protected by a monster.

Along the way, the announce crew does a brilliant job of establishing the group, the potential of that guy named Hydro, and the sheer anarchy of this faction. But before we go further, there’s a sign in the back of the arena, and it is monumental: "We don't imitate, we innovate."

Wow… that is eyebrow-raising. It really hits me as across the industry, we live in an era where professional wrestling is content, not creative; where professional wrestling is following the leader, not establishing an alternative; where professional wrestling still clings to a booking concept three generations of fans outdated, and constantly rejects any notion of starting a new cycle.

Sure, ROH isn’t so likely to put the belt on Cheeseburger, but the way this business works, I wouldn’t be so surprised. The main point is that a decade ago, there was creativity in professional wrestling, especially as presented by Ring of Honor circa 2003-2005, had a mid-card storyline in place that would eventual elevate a fresh young face to main event status.

This storyline is based on having a strong champion, based on having a tier of elite wrestlers, and based on the development of this story, the investment of time and talk, the involvement of the fans, and the inevitable establishment of Jay Lethal. Can a Hydro become a Jay Lethal in 2014? My pessimism rises to mind, but let’s take a look at some of the main points in that development and how it happened in ROH a decade removed.

Special K vs The Ring Crew Express & The Outcast Killaz

This is a pretty good example of Special K in action, focusing on the talent of Hydro, in a ring full of good talent and innovative talent and otherwise forgettable names. I really enjoyed the enthusiasm of the announce crew and their focus on innovation (the atypical dives, the interesting twists on things, a sunset flip powerbomb that looked a lot like the Canadian Destroyer and a variant of the F-5), on the shenanigans of Special K and the presence of Slugger. Special K as a heel faction stirs up the emotions and the potentials, but that’s a path long forgotten. The pin was clever and visual, which are two things that aren’t said these days all that much.

Hydro vs Alex Shelley

Many may have forgotten the initial version of Generation Next and Alex Shelley as the head honcho. In 2004, Hydro proved himself by hanging with Shelley, and what was awesome was the way the crowd rallied behind a guy who was with another heel group, but who was getting a bit of a spotlight and was getting some steam from all the accolades. That, plus he can really go. Another match with really strong commentating: spelling out the story on both sides of the match, getting into the details, and overall, a sense that Hydro is becoming more and more serious in his approach, distancing himself from the raver crew.

Hydro vs CM Punk

The key here is that Hydro shames punk into a match, on a night where Punk just embarrassed the promotion and its tag team titles. The storytelling was great, from the interplay to the announcing to the ability of the soon-to-be Jay lethal to hang with Punk and make him make the match. All this before the match even begins.

And it continued when the match starts, as Hydro plays to the Code of Honor, and shake hands for the first time. His growth is touted by the announce crew and the build of the match. It doesn’t matter that this is a domination by a top tier talent in ROH. Actually, it does matter. The story is told in the ring and by the talking: "you don't get noticed wrestling guys your level, or lower". How true, how true.

What ROH established at this time (in mid 2004) is a pecking order. Samoa Joe as Champion; CM Punk as a top indie player; a number of guys jockeying for position, and Hydro as a guy who went to the top of the food chain, and demanded a match. This is the way to establish a name as a rising star. This was a time when CM Punk was all about intimidating, and Hydro stood up to him. We saw Punk wipe the mat with jobbers, but Hydro proved he was rising up the pecking order.

As an aside, CM Punk was messing with Ricky Steamboat, and chasing Samoa Joe, the crew suggests that he may be looking ahead, but in the ring, Hydro was taking everything Punk had, and survived, survived, survived. In doing so, it told a chapter in a much bigger picture, and it got the attention of the fans, and more importantly, as seen in promos following.
That’s the kind of connection so sorely missing these days.

Jay Lethal vs Low Ki

Thus begins an interesting sidebar to the Jay Lethal saga: his feud with Low Ki. Here, he’s the protégé of Samoa Joe, and Low Ki is the guy who is a level above, who is no stepping stone, but a foe to be conquered. Oh yeah, and the leading up to Jay Lethal is in the promos before this match. In that era of professional wrestling, that’s still a building block for a long term program.

Jay Lethal & Samoa Joe vs Nigel McGuiness & John Walters

The Pure Title becomes an interesting point of contention in the commentary here, as Joe sees it as a way that diminishes his Title, and the rules aren’t any less controversial to him. It’s interesting that the announce crew can talk about things that lead to longer term conflicts, not just what’s in store for the current match, all the while not distracting from the current match. Solid tag team action, with the always interesting Nigel McGuiness and the interesting glimpse at John Walters, who looks more like a typical Indie guy than I remember, but also had a different sort of style, which obviously played into his Pure Title reign.

Jay Lethal vs Spanky

Now the Pure Title is in Spanky’s hands, and Lethal is challenging. How will Samoa Joe react? Well, that’s the culmination of this disc. Here, Lethal takes the big step to establishing himself as a player. It’s well over two years since the first match on this compilation, and it’s not rushed at all, and with each match, the development of Jay Lethal is evident. Following is Jay Lethal & Samoa Joe vs Low Ki & Homicide, a tag match of brutality and some really dangerous spots. At this time we know Lethal is the real deal, as do the fans.

Which leads to Lethal vs Low Ki (a Fight Without Honor, at Glory by Honor IV (Sept 2005)). Can Lethal finally dethrone his nemesis? How can he with Julius Smokes at ringside? But does he have the fans? Does Samoa Joe have his back? So many questions, but look at that word count!

Jay Lethal vs Samoa Joe

And then there’s the culmination of every good protégé story, or so I’ve learned, and the match between student and teacher ensues. While I’ll let the reader buy the DVD to see this very good match, the story of the match is a story in the ring, with Lethal having a game plan, and an expectation in everyone’s mind that it will either be a Muscle Buster or a Dragon Suplex at the end.
I’ve always liked Lethal, and he’s a guy with that quality called “fire”, which shines from day one. From his time as Black Machismo to his return to his ill-fated unfortunately necessary creatively inspired recent heel turn, he’s proven to be a guy that a promotion can build around.

But realize that factions, tiers of talent and layered storylines can make a talent like Jay Lethal even better.

Reminder, wrestling reports tend to be smarky as hell and full of babies:

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Dot Net Member Adam Dunn attended WWE Raw in St. Louis, Missouri and sent the following report.

Half the upper deck was tarped off. I've never seen that before.

The crowd was red hot to start the show. Lot's of noise for the Bray Wyatt and John Cena opening segment, which came across simply amazing live.

The Uso's winning was very well received too.

Either I've gotten old or they have turned up the audio on the shows to deafening levels. I never remember it being that loud for the dozen or so events I have been too. Every commercial break and entrance theme was like a rock concert.

The crowd was dead until Daniel Bryan came out, and then they were dead for the remainder of the show. There was just an empty feeling in the arena with simply too much filler.

Overall, it was probably the worst wrestling show I've been to. And that includes a godawful Smackdown in 2004 where Josh Matthews was in the main event. Unless someone gives me ringside seats, I won't be at the Survivor Series in November.

Last night's RAW wasn't even bad. Good? Probably not. But not the WORST WRESTLING SHOW EVER.

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I would be very, very much interested in reviewing the Ultra Mantis Black "Strangeways" DVD and hyping it. I also write for other publications, and would spread the word anywhere I can.

(I already asked CHIKARA, but they said they can't give me this one.)

If there are any other opportunities to review, I'd love to see any other DVD's. I try to cover the indy wrestling scene (just like you guys!) and I get regular copies from ROH, Dragon Gate/Evolve and other promotions, as well as books from ECW Press and others.

In the end, I may just buy this DVD, but I've found that the dynamics of a review copy isn't the same as paying for one. If I buy it, it will be hype for the ROH/CHIKARA angle, not so much for the DVD.

I wasn't there Monday, but I've been to almost every RAW or PPV in StL since 2006 and it's never been dead for long periods of the show. I can't imagine it was like that the other night. But hell I could be wrong.

I wasn't there Monday, but I've been to almost every RAW or PPV in StL since 2006 and it's never been dead for long periods of the show. I can't imagine it was like that the other night. But hell I could be wrong.

It was. They cared about Cena, Bryan and I guess the Shield a little bit. Not much else.

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Why the hell do so many people like Daniel Bryan I dont get it he is a joke there marketing him as unstopable and people are buying in it really pisses me off what a joke wrestling has become and those Yes chants are so stupid the freaking arena sounds like a freaking orgasm Im sick of it There going to make him the next Cena hopefuly people will get tired of him like Cena

Whenever I see a post like that I wonder who the person would prefer were being "treated like Cena." Like if they actually have an alternate preference for Most Popular Guy out of the current roster or if they just wish Hogan/Stone Cold was still World Champion and wrestling is trash because it's not exactly the same as when they were 10-14.

Whenever I see a post like that I wonder who the person would prefer were being "treated like Cena." Like if they actually have an alternate preference for Most Popular Guy out of the current roster or if they just wish Hogan/Stone Cold was still World Champion and wrestling is trash because it's not exactly the same as when they were 10-14.

Or that anyone booked as an underdog and then wins is "Cena." As if it's not one of the oldest wrestling angles of all time.

To be fair, there was no way that match was gonna live up to that build. And the fact that David just hit his finisher and won was just the cherry on top of the poo poo sundae. Then David had that super baby face reign that seemed to last forever until they put some edge back on his character with the Bathsheba angle.

To be fair, there was no way that match was gonna live up to that build. And the fact that David just hit his finisher and won was just the cherry on top of the poo poo sundae. Then David had that super baby face reign that seemed to last forever until they put some edge back on his character with the Bathsheba angle.

David did spend some time playing CM Punk to Saul's Cena before his reign though.

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Should Daniel Bryan turn heel?

There were a few things I was afraid might happen if he won the title and IMO it all seems to be happening.

He would get the "CM Punk treatment". His match with Kane is an afterthought compared to Shield vs Evolution and Wyatt vs Cena. I don't think many people care that much about this match nor does anyone expect Kane to win. This whole match/feud screams of creative not having any better ideas and Kane is the old reliable (along with heel Big Show, but he just recently went through a heel/face turn with the authority, another one wouldn't make sense, even by Big Show standards).

He's losing steam. Watching him on Monday night he was clearly over, but not as over as he was before winning the title. It seems like the yes chants are more out of a sense of obligation now than being "organic" like Bryan said the yes movement was.

They don't know any other way to book him as a babyface. How do you book a guy who's appeal has been getting beat down every week on RAW for like 8 months in pursuit of the belt? I guess the answer is to keep beating him down while he tries to defend it. There's a few problems with this. First of all this is getting old and boring. I think some people are tired of the same old poo poo and are losing interest. The other problem is this makes Bryan look weak. The Champ shouldn't be getting destroyed by Kane. Compare Bryan to the Shield. The Shield squashed Kane and the outlaws. They beat up 11 guys on Smackdown. They took a Daniel Bryan like beat down on RAW and still came back to win the brawl. If we've established that Bryan is strong enough in kayfabe to beat Triple H and go on to basically win a handicap match against Evolution in the same night, then they shouldn't be afraid to book him that strong on a weekly basis.

They're protecting him from over exposure. Since WM, he's wrestled Triple H as a vehicle for a Shield face turn, marked out with Hogan for some Hogan rub, been beat up again, and returned with his usual "You're full of crap...listen to these people" promo. I think they might be afraid the crowd will turn on him. The top heels(Triple H, Bray, Lesnar/Heyman, Cesaro, Barrett) are so over could possibly steel his thunder.

Tl;dr he's not the star of the show right now, he's losing steam, they don't know where to go with him now, they don't know who to put him up against, and his character/promos/booking is getting stale.

This is a lot of assuming when the dude has basically not been on the show since Mania with unforeseen circumstances being largely the reason. Still probably the most over "as a face" guy they have, and based on these few unfortunate weeks HE SHOULD TURN HEEL!!!

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ROH has produced a large number of compilations over the past year, and I understand that compilations by an indie promotion are meant to capitalize on former names now thriving on other (bigger) stages, but the underlying criticism I have about ROH's compilations is that watching the best of the best almost always gets repetitive. Plus, it's awkward to watch the old, then follow the new, and realize that there is a difference.

Ugh I'm so tired of ROH putting out compilations of their best matches, where is my Christopher Street Connection 2 disc set

Ugh I'm so tired of ROH putting out compilations of their best matches, where is my Christopher Street Connection 2 disc set
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I can't get over that he finds it awkward to realize there is a difference between things that are old and things that are new. Whenever I see my grandmother holding her great granddaughter I find it terribly awkward to realize the difference.

This is a lot of assuming when the dude has basically not been on the show since Mania with unforeseen circumstances being largely the reason. Still probably the most over "as a face" guy they have, and based on these few unfortunate weeks HE SHOULD TURN HEEL!!!

His father dying, yes, but a honeymoon isn't really unforeseen. It actually isn't really a good idea for a major star to get married on Mania week, but it's not like I'm going to criticize him for that.